Pics: How children, women, others suffer in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar

Lucknow, Sept 11: Administration in Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday, Sept 11 decided to relax the curfew imposed in the area. Officials informed that situation in the riot-hit district has come back to normalcy.

Kaushal Raj Sharma, the District Magistrate, on Wednesday said that curfew would be relaxed for four hours from 12 noon.

Death toll in the clashes in the district and adjoining towns has claimed 40 lives. The district administration reviewed the situation and took a decision to relax curfew to help the people attend necessary chores.

Strict vigil was being maintained during the relaxation period and police and paramilitary forces are on high alert. All injured people including children, women and others were admitted to hospitals.

Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was quoted as saying, "The state government would deal strictly with all those who have tried to create communal chasm and harm the atmosphere of Muzaffarnagar and Uttar Pradesh."

The CM also added, "It would be our effort that communal amity is strengthened and the areas where situation has been brought under control no new incidents are allowed to take place."

"We have got information that many people have left there homes and villages and collected elsewhere and they have to return...it would be my appeal that brotherhood should remain intact," added Akhilesh who has been facing flak from all over the country for his "failure" to control the situation during crisis.

Muslim refugees in Muzaffarnagar

Muslims take refuge in Julla Village following riots in Muzaffarnagar.

Riot: People flee from Muzaffarnagar

People flee from the violence-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

A scary mother and daughter in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar

A mother and daughter peek from inside the house during the curfew in violence-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Victims in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar

Victims in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Riot victims take refuge at Kakra Shahpur

Riot victims take refuge at Kakra Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Injured in the communal riots

11-yr-old Azra and 5-yr-old Aksa, injured in the communal riots, receives treatment at a government hospital in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Injured in the communal riots

70-year-old Shakuran, injured in the communal riots, receives treatment at a government hospital in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Children having food at a makeshift camp

Riot-affected women and children having food at a makeshift camp at Islamabad Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Riot victims crying at a makeshift camp

Riot victims crying at a makeshift camp at Islamabad Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Riot-affected women and children having food

Riot-affected women and children having food at a makeshift camp at Islamabad Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Riot victims take refuge

Riot victims take refuge at a makeshift camp at Islamabad Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Villagers who were injured in communal riots at Kakda

Villagers who were injured in communal riots at Kakda, near Shahpur in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People wait at a petrol pump

People wait at a petrol pump for filling when the curfew was relaxed for few hours in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People injured in communal riots, being treated

People injured in communal riots, being treated at a goverment hospital in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Shiv Chowk during the curfew relaxed hours

A view of the main Shiv Chowk during the curfew relaxed hours in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People come out to buy vegetables

People come out to buy vegetables and other essential items as the curfew was relaxed for two hours in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday

Security personnel keep vigil

Security personnel keep vigil as people are seen on the roads during the relaxed hours of curfew in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People buying medicines during the relaxed hours of curfew

People buying medicines and other essential items during the relaxed hours of curfew in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People carrying daily use commodities

People carrying daily use commodities during the relaxed hours of curfew in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

People queue up to collect milk during the relaxed hours of curfew

People queue up to collect milk during the relaxed hours of curfew in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

An RAF jawan shakes hands with a boy

An RAF jawan shakes hands with a boy during relaxed hours of curfew in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.

Rapid Action Force keeps vigil

Rapid Action Force keeps vigil during the relaxed hours in the curfew bound Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday.